So it was true. In her previous life, when the Song family suffered that great calamity, the Feng family had a hand in it. And they had even colluded with the He family…
The He family!
Song Wanníng's fists slowly clenched. Darkness bled into her gaze, turning it deeper and colder.
The He family… how very fine of them.
If this vengeance was left unpaid, she, Song Wanníng, would never rest in peace.
She etched every shred of memory into her mind and sealed it deep within a corner of her consciousness, then withdrew her hand.
In this life, Feng Youming had not yet joined hands with Ye Chuxue and Bai Yang. But what would happen in the future was impossible to predict. She would have to be careful.
As for Feng Youming…
He was now nothing more than a fool, staring blankly at the air.
The Soul Search technique was brutally invasive. At best, it left the target dull-witted; at worst, it shattered their soul entirely. She had already exercised the greatest restraint possible.
Song Wanníng took out a pill and pressed it into his mouth. The blood that had been gushing from his limbs stopped at once, and his pallor gradually improved. No longer did he look on the brink of death, drained of all color.
Feng Youming raised his head and gave her a vacant, silly grin. His face, bruised and swollen, looked absurd.
The once-arrogant, untouchable Feng Youming was gone.
Song Wanníng studied him quietly.
At last, she understood the strange sense of fracture that had always clung to him.
The Feng family he so proudly spoke of… had in fact been deserters of the ancient war. After the realm split in two, the lower realm suffered repeated invasions. The incomplete laws of Heaven drew the gaze of alien races.
To protect the world, humans, demon cultivators, and the beast and spirit races had all set aside their grievances to fight the invaders together.
But there were a few families who abandoned the battlefield, fleeing with their entire clans. Those families' ancestors had found a secluded sanctuary, rich in spiritual energy, like a paradise hidden from the world. As expected, they were untouched by war, living in peace and prosperity generation after generation.
Feng Youming had shown exceptional talent from childhood, praised and supported by all, breaking through to Divine Transformation with ease. But with only a handful of families in that sanctuary and little real hardship, he had grown up with a kind of unclouded foolishness.
Yet despite the abundant spiritual energy, why had the Feng family wanted to leave and establish their territory outside?
Because that sanctuary could not lead to ascension.
Even the path to the Spirit Realm was blocked to them, let alone the Immortal Realm. One by one, their ancestors had perished in unwillingness.
The higher one's cultivation, the more hopeless it became. Unable to ascend, trapped in a small world… no matter how long one lived, it was meaningless.
In time, the people there grew used to it.
Until a few years ago, when the Feng Patriarch stumbled upon a flaw in the barrier. After investigation, he discovered the flaw appeared once every six months, allowing only one person through each time.
Overjoyed, he came out alone. The vast and promising outside world lit a fire in his heart. His ambition grew boundless. He even dreamed of bringing his entire clan out. To that end, he captured several prodigies of formation arts and forced them, one by one, through the flaw into the sanctuary, demanding they break the restriction.
Meanwhile, the Feng family's own formation masters worked tirelessly to do the same. With so many clansmen, bringing them out one at a time could take centuries.
And what he coveted most was the Song family's underground dragon vein. Without it in his hands, he could not rest easy.
Recently, the restriction had weakened greatly. The Patriarch's attention was fixed on it, so he sent Feng Youming to investigate the situation outside.
Now that Song Wanníng had pieced together the whole story, she found it laughable. They had hidden away in safety when the world was in peril, and now they wanted to come out and seize the dragon vein?
The Feng family's shamelessness knew no bounds.
With a cold expression, she left Feng Youming in the stone chamber and went to find Mu Yuan, telling her everything in detail.
With all the mysteries laid bare, Mu Yuan actually breathed easier.
Better to have a clear target than to wander in confusion, never knowing friend from foe.
"I suspect the He family isn't their only ally," she said.
The Feng Patriarch had been outside for years. A man so meticulous would not rely on the He family alone.
"You're right. And if the Feng family found a flaw, there's no reason the other families in the sanctuary couldn't have…"
Mu Yuan's voice turned bolder. Everyone in that place was desperate to get out. For all they knew, the others had already found the same flaw. If that were true, the problem was far worse than they'd imagined.
"If so… the Song family…"
Song Wanníng's heart sank. The dragon vein was enough to tempt anyone. If greed overcame them, they would not even bother with pretexts.
"There are far too many Divine Transformation cultivators in the sanctuary…"
A shadow crossed her face. She had thought avenging her family would be enough to keep them safe, but she had been naïve. The enemy was far too strong.
Mu Yuan's own expression hardened. "How many?"
"Just the Feng family has over twenty… and even more at the Nascent Soul stage."
Song Wanníng's voice was grave. With such strength, unless the human race united…
If those families emerged, the balance of power would be completely overturned.
"So many?"
Mu Yuan's chest tightened, surprise flashing in her eyes.
All the families together could well have a hundred Divine Transformation cultivators… and that was not counting the Nascent Souls.
Song Wanníng nodded heavily. "And that's not all. They also have powerful treasures and complete inheritances…"
The sanctuary had escaped the ancient war. Their legacies were intact. With abundant spiritual energy, rich resources, and little strife, most cultivators there had reached the limits of their talent.
Mu Yuan's face shifted again and again. She had never imagined the Song family's enemy would be this powerful. Compared to them, even the top clans looked laughable.
"I'll speak to your father. We'll gather everyone to discuss countermeasures. For now, everyone must focus on increasing their cultivation. No matter the rank, cultivation comes first."
Mu Yuan's voice steadied. The Feng family would use every trick to seize the dragon vein. Until the restriction was broken, this was the time they had left.
"Yes. And try to secure as many trustworthy allies as possible."
Some families had enmity with the Songs, but others still had good relations. If they could stand together, all the better.
"I understand. But… what about Feng Youming?"
"Keep him alive. He'll be of great use."
Song Wanníng's eyes chilled as she leaned close to whisper in Mu Yuan's ear.
"This… carrying his Yuányīng, wouldn't that…"
Mu Yuan frowned in concern, startled by her daughter's audacity.
"If possible, I'd rather you keep him in the spiritual vein, under my guard."
She didn't want her daughter in any danger.
But Song Wanníng shook her head. "The Feng Patriarch will be watching his condition closely. If he stays here and they can't contact him, it will raise suspicion. Don't worry. His Yuányīng is already dull-witted. With my sword spirit beside me, he can't harm me."